Bishop Emeritus Frank J. Dewane passes away at 76

Bishop Emeritus Frank J. Dewane died on Oct. 7, 2026, at the age of 76. He served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida for nearly 20 years, leading the diocese through a period of growth, several hurricanes, and a global pandemic.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Oct. 14 at St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers because the Epiphany Cathedral is undergoing renovations. Archbishop James F. Checchio of New Orleans presided over the funeral, while Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis delivered the homily.

The service included 10 bishops, among them Bishop Jacques E. Fabre of Charleston, South Carolina, who previously served as a priest in the Diocese of Venice. Archbishop Hebda noted that he and Bishop Dewane became friends while studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.